Best family friendly hotels in Thailand

Family-friendly doesn’t have to equal a kids’ club with soft play, and the Six Senses on the sleepy island of Koh Yao Noi will prove this. Just getting here is an adventure for kids – the small island is located partway between Phuket and Krabi, so you’ll zip across turquoise water, arriving by boat.

Sustainability and wellness are at the forefront of a Six Senses stay, and you’ll see this in the activities they arrange for kids –pulling in the six dimensions of wellness (social, environmental, physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual) to help children reconnect with nature and learn life skills through play. Much of this is done through the Junior Eco Warrior Program, a complimentary rotating roster of activities running from 10am to 1pm daily, for children aged between four and 12.

Activities go far beyond painting and cooking classes, although there’s plenty of that, too. There may be trips to the beach to use recycled timber to build Hornbill Villas, learning how to save the birds from extinction, or wildlife walks through the mangroves, spotting the resort’s resident monitor lizard on the way. There’ll be composting classes, trips to the bottling plant to learn about plastic consumption and water waste and the best bit, trips to the hotel’s farm, collecting eggs from the chicken pen (before watching the birds dance to jazz) and pausing to see the goats, who happily await a friendly pat on the head. All this leaves time for you to make the most of the spa or relax over a child-free breakfast.

The hotel’s real showstopper is the infinity pool with views of the limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay. It’s a sociable spot, but most villas – dotted across the jungly hillside – come with pools (some more shady than others). Dining here is a delicious, romantic experience – the hotel will help you book the occasional babysitter.